ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Namami Gange in association with NIUA announced winners of ‘Re-Imagining Urban Rivers’, a national-level thesis competition.
National Mission for Clean Ganga  and the National Institute for Urban Affairs  had organised ‘Re-Imagining Urban Rivers’, a national level thesis competition in September 2020, under a joint project that the two organizations are implementing to promulgate river- sensitive development in our cities. This is a first of its kind initiative to engage young minds to research and envisage solutions for urban river issues. The purpose of this sponsored thesis competition is to tap into the intellect and creativity of students to arrive at innovative solutions for re-imagining the outlook and management of rivers that flow through cities and their associated features. The competition had three themes - Re-imagining water bodies and/or wetlands, developing eco-friendly riverfront projects and Promoting River tourism. Students from leading institutes across the country presented their thesis in the grand finale of the competition on 19th Aug 2021 at Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
“Namami Gange is an integrated program with many innovative features and which has been engaging with academic institutes to get new ideas and perspectives in river rejuvenation,” said Shri Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga. He shared that the idea behind this thesis competition was to continuously engage with young researchers and scholars who can think in integrated ways and have new planning perspectives. They can also share fresh and innovative ideas. He also shared the idea of developing a river city alliance for institutionalising such thinking.
Sh. Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, in his special address emphasised the importance of river tourism in urban areas. Citing success stories of Sabarmati River Front, Ahmedabad and making Indore water plus city, he said, “The development which we had been planning for so many years is happening today.” Addressing the participants he added, “Now you don’t have be wait for government to work on your projects. Each one of you have a potential to make it a huge success.”
Second edition of the Sponsored Thesis Project Competition was launched at the event. This year’s themes will be ‘Reducing River pollution’, ‘Rejuvenating water bodies’, ‘Creating a vibrant river zone’, ‘Generating river-related economy’ and ‘Engaging citizens in river management activities.’ Entries can be mailed at urvers@niua.org. The last date of submission will be 26th September 2021.
Cabinet
Cabinet resolution on the success of the New Delhi G20 Summit
The Union Cabinet in its meeting today passed a resolution hailing the success of the New Delhi G20 Summit, held on 9-10 September 2023.
The Cabinet lauded the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in setting out various aspects of the theme ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’. The Prime Minister’s approach of Jan Bhagidari involved broad sections of our society in the G20 programmes and activities. The 200 plus meetings in 60 cities represented an unprecedented footprint for G20 events. As a result, the Indian G20 Presidency was truly people-centric and emerged as a national endeavour.
The Cabinet felt that the outcomes of the Summit were transformational and would contribute to the reshaping of the global order in the decades ahead. In particular, the focus on realizing Sustainable Development Goals, in reforming international financial institutions, in establishing digital public infrastructure, in promoting a green development pact and encouraging women-led development were noteworthy.
The Cabinet also noted that at a time when East-West polarization was strong and the North-South divide deep, the Prime Minister’s endeavours created a crucial consensus on the most important issues of the day.
The holding of the ‘Voice of the Global South’ Summit was a unique aspect of India’s Presidency. It is a matter of particular satisfaction that India’s initiative led to the African Union being accepted as a permanent member of the G20.
The New Delhi Summit provided an occasion for demonstration of India’s contemporary technology advancement as well as of our heritage, culture and traditions. This was widely appreciated by leaders and delegates of G20 member-states.
The energizing of the international economy, availability of greater resources for development, expansion of tourism, global workplace opportunities, stronger food security through millet production and consumption and a deeper commitment to bio-fuels are among the prominent outcomes of the G20 Summit that will benefit the entire nation.
The conclusion of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor Agreement and the Global Biofuels Alliance during the Summit were also developments of considerable significance.
The Union Cabinet appreciated the contribution of all organizations and individuals involved in the success of the G20 Summit. It recognized the enthusiasm with which the people of India, especially the younger generation, participated in its activities. It recognized the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in giving the Indian G20 Presidency a strong direction with a view to promoting growth and development in the world.
Ministry of Steel
NMDC wins IEI Industry Excellence Award 2022
National Miner NMDC won the coveted IEI  Industry Excellence Award 2022 on Friday 16th December,2022 in Chennai. The largest producer of the iron ore in the country was felicitated at the 37th Indian Engineering Congress for its outstanding performance and high level of business excellence. On behalf of NMDC, Shri N R K Prasad, CGM , received the award from Dr. K Ponmudy, Minister for Higher Education, Government of Tamil Nadu.
The Institution of Engineers  has given the Industry Excellence Award to NMDC , after reviewing the business operations, financial performance, environmental performance, research and development, CSR and corporate governance policies of a company. With an eco-friendly, economic and efficient approach, NMDC is taking up transformational projects to retain its domestic leadership and foray towards becoming a global mining company.
Commenting on the occasion, Shri Sumit Deb, CMD, NMDC said that NMDC has remained resolute in its vision to be a significant economic contributor to the growth of the nation since its inception. The company has dedicated its efforts to outperforming itself each quarter and creating innovative business strategies. "The award is well-deserved and I congratulate the team for their commitment and sincerity," Shri Deb added.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Biodegradable biopolymer nanocomposite that detects relative humidity can monitor packed food freshness
A newly developed biodegradable, biopolymer nanocomposite which can detect relative humidity can find application as smart packaging materials, especially for the food industry.
The food industry has an increasing need for non-toxic, biodegradable, low-cost, and environmentally friendly material for use as packaging material to replace petroleum-based material like plastics. Besides, it also needs smart and active packaging materials to detect and report food quality in a real-time fashion. Such smart and active packaging systems respond to signals while interacting with the food packaging environment. Perishable packed foods are easily damaged by the change in relative humidity.
Scientists from the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology , an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology led by Prof. Devasish Chowdhury, Professor in the Physical Sciences Division, and his INSPIRE Senior Research Fellow  student Mr. Sazzadur Rahman have developed a smart biodegradable biopolymer nanocomposite which can detect relative humidity. In this, two biopolymers, Guar Gum  and Alginate , were blended with carbon dots  to make a nanocomposite film that was successfully used to detect relative humidity. The fabricated nanocomposite film was an excellent smart sensor based on the fluorescence ‘on-off’ mechanisms against humidity. Their research has been published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.
The nanocomposite film shows change in fluorescence in presence of high humidity. Hence, the fabricated nanocomposite film can monitor the packed food freshness using just a UV light source. “Smart and active packaging can help consumers select a fresh product without breaking the pack. Such innovative packaging boosts sales and reduces consumers' time to identify fresh food products,” said Prof. Chowdhury.
Publication link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.07.008
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
Cabinet approves Revising and Realigning various components of Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying Schemes and Special livestock package for leveraging investment of Rs.54,618 crore
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved implementation of special livestock sector package consisting of several activities by revising and realigning various components of Government of India's schemes for next 5 years starting from 2021-22 in order to further boost growth in livestock sector and thereby making animal husbandry more remunerative to 10 crore farmers engaged in Animal Husbandry Sector. This package envisages Central Government's support amounting to Rs.9800 crore over duration of 5 years for leveraging total investment of Rs.54,618 crore for 5 years.
Financial Implication:
The financial commitment of Rs.9800 crore by Government of India over next 5 years starting 2021-22 for these schemes would leverage total investment of Rs.54,618 crore in livestock sector including share of investments by State Governments, State Cooperatives, Financial institutions, External funding agencies and other stakeholder.
Details:
As per this, all the schemes of the Department will be merged into three broad categories as Development Programmes which includes Rashtriya Gokul Mission, National Programme for Dairy Development , National Livestock Mission  and Livestock Census and Integrated Sample Survey  as sub-schemes, Disease Control programme renamed as Livestock Health and Disease Control  which includes the present Livestock Health and Disease Control  scheme and National Animal Disease Control Programme  and Infrastructure Development Fund wherein, the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development fund  and the Dairy Infrastructure Development Fund  are merged and the present scheme for support to Dairy Cooperatives and Farmer Producer Organizations engaged in Dairy activities is also included in this third category.
Impact:
The Rashtriya Gokul Mission will help in development and conservation of indigenous breeds and would also contribute in improving the economic condition of the rural poor. The National Programme for Dairy Development  scheme is targeted towards installation of about 8900 bulk milk coolers, thus providing benefit to more than 8 lakh milk producers and 20 LLPD milk will be additionally procured. Under NPDD, financial assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency  will be availed thus strengthening and creating fresh infrastructure in 4500 villages.
Excellencies,
We are meeting amid an atmosphere of global tension. India has always been in favour of peace. Even in the present situation, we have constantly urged for the path of dialogue and diplomacy. The impact of this geopolitical tension is not just limited to Europe. The rising prices of energy and food grains are affecting all the countries. The energy and security of developing countries is particularly at risk. In this challenging time, India has supplied food grains to many countries in need. We have dispatched about 35,000 tonnes of wheat as humanitarian aid to Afghanistan in the last few months. And even after the heavy earthquake there, India was the first country to deliver relief materials. We are also helping our neighbour Sri Lanka to ensure food security.
I have some suggestions on the subject of global food security. First, we must focus on the availability of fertilizers, and keep the value chains of fertilizers smooth at a global scale. We are trying to increase the production of fertilizers in India and seek cooperation from G7-countries in this regard. Second, India has immense agricultural manpower compared to the countries of the G7. Indian agricultural skills have helped give new life to traditional agricultural products like cheese and olive in some of the countries of the G7. Can the G7 create a structured system for the widespread use of Indian agricultural talent in its member countries? With the help of traditional talent of India's farmers, food security will be ensured to G7 countries.
Next year, the World is celebrating the International Year of Millets. On this occasion, we should run a campaign to promote a nutritious alternative like millets. Millets can make a valuable contribution to ensuring food security in the world. Finally, I would like to draw the attention of all of you to the 'natural farming' revolution taking place in India. Your experts can study this experiment. We have shared a non-paper on this subject with all of you.
Excellencies,
Where gender equality is concerned, today, India's approach is moving from 'women's development' to 'women-led development'. More than 6 million Indian women frontline workers kept our citizens safe during the pandemic. Our women scientists made a big contribution in developing vaccines and test kits in India. More than one million female volunteers in India are active in providing rural health, whom we call 'ASHA workers'. Just last month, the World Health Organization honoured these Indian ASHA workers with its '2022 Global Leaders Award'.
If all the elected leaders in India from local government to national government are counted, more than half of them are women, and the total number will be in millions. This shows that Indian women are fully involved in real decision-making today. Next year, India is going to chair the G20. We will maintain close dialogue with G7-countries on other issues, including post-COVID recovery, under the G20 platform.
Thank you.
DISCLAIMER - This is the approximate translation of Prime Minister’s remarks. Original remarks were delivered in Hindi.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Tax Exemption to Start-Ups
Startups receiving investments from Ventures Capital Fund are exempt from taxation as per provision of Section 56,   of Income Tax Act 1961 . Angel Fund is sub category of Ventures Capital Fund under Category-I Alternative Investment Fund , hence, eligible for the same exemption.
Several round of discussions have been held by Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade  with the Startup ecosystem to address their concerns. Consequently, a notification number G.S.R. 127, dated 19th February, 2019 was issued by DPIIT. Central Board of Direct Taxes  vide their notification number S.O. 1131 dated 5th March 2019 has notified that provisions of Section 56  vii of Act shall not apply to consideration received by a company for issue of shares that exceeds the face value of such shares, if the said consideration has been received from a person, being a resident, by a company which fulfils the conditions specified in notification number G.S.R. 127, dated 19th February, 2019 of DPIIT.
Department of Revenue had earlier issued an advisory on 24th December, 2018 based on representations received from various startup companies that no coercive measures to recover the outstanding amount should be taken for startup companies, if additions have been made by Assessing Officer under Section 56 vii of Income Tax Act, 1961 after modifying /rejecting evaluation so furnished under Rule 11 UA  of Income Tax Rule, 1962.
The provisions of the notification number G.S.R. 127 dated 19th February 2019 have been fully implemented, easing norms for providing tax relief to Startups on angel investments.
DPIIT accepts applications and declarations from Startups applying for Angel Tax Exemption and on the receipt of the same DPIIT forwards these applications to CBDT. As on 21st June, 2019 a total of 944 applications for Angel Tax Exemption have been received. Thirty-nine applications have been found to be incomplete, and 203 applications were repeat or modified applications. CBDT has exempted 702 startups under this provision.
This information was given by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, PiyushGoyal, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs 
Cabinet approves grant of Interest Free Loan equivalent to interest during construction component to fertilizer revival projects at Sindri, Gorakhpur and Barauni by Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Limited
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of Department of Fertilizers to grant Interest Free Loan  equivalent to the interest during construction  component of Rs.422.28 crore, 415.77 crore and 419.77 crore for Gorakhpur, Sindri and Barauni projects respectively to Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Limited  fertilizer projects.
The total value of the IFL will be Rs.1257.82 crore. The IFL shall cover only the interest accrued during the scheduled period of construction and any escalation due to time or cost overrun will be borne by the JV Company.
The IFL shall be disbursed in first three years during construction. The repayment shall be spread over a period of 11 years with a moratorium period of three years of disbursement period during construction and the repayment phased over the next eight years.
Background:
Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Limited, a Joint Venture company of National Thermal Power Corporation, Indian Oil Company Limited, Coal India Limited and Fertilizer Corporation of India Limited / Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation Limited was incorporated in June 2016 to implement the fertilizer revival projects at Gorakhpur, Sindri and Barauni. Interest free loan would result in savings in the Project Cost expenditure and improvement in the project IRR and viability ratios, particularly the minimum debt service coverage ratio.
Ministry of Textiles
Setting Up of CETPs
Government is implementing the Integrated Processing Development Scheme  for enabling the textile processing sector to meet environmental standards through adoption of appropriate technology, specifically in the area of water and waste water management. The Government has sanctioned 6 projects under the IPDS for setting up Common Effluent Treatment plants  with Zero Liquid Discharge  systems in the state of Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.
This information was given by the Minister of State of Textiles, Ajay Tamta, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Rural Development
Objectives of Mission Antyodaya Survey
Mission Antyodaya  Survey is a convergence and accountability framework aiming to bring optimum use and management of resources allocated by 27 Ministries/ Department of the Government of India under various programmes for the development of rural areas. It is very useful for preparation of Gram Panchayat Development Plans  as the gap analysis tool in 269253 GPs and equivalents. The primary objective of Antyodaya is to survey and collect village infrastructure and services data for more than 6.5 lakh villages in the country. MA Survey presents secondary data to carry out gap analysis and the data serves as a key input in the preparation of development plans at Gram Panchayat, block and district levels.
Being a convergence framework, no funds have been allotted for Mission Antyodaya Survey. The survey is being conducted with the funds available with the States/UTs under the Administrative head of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. The MA Survey 2022-23 is likely to be completed by 15th April 2023.
Mission Antyodaya Survey encourages addressing all identified deprivations in a time-bound manner through intensifying coverage of government schemes to address individual, household and community-level deprivations in saturation mode. It also aims to lend support to the process of participatory planning for Gram Panchayat Development Plan  which will improve service delivery, create space for an alliance of people's institutions and groups and improve governance at the local level. The survey data will help and benefit all States including the State of West Bengal.
This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
6th day of ongoing Jan Aushadhi Diwas, 2023 celebrated as “Aao Jan Aushadhi Mitra Banein”
Pan India seminars and workshops on PMBJP in Pharma colleges and Universities conducted on the 6th Day of week-long celebration of Jan Aushadhi Diwas 2023
The sixth day of ongoing Jan Aushadhi Diwas, 2023 is celebrated as “Aao Jan Aushadhi Mitra Banein” today. On this occasion, large number of people took pledge ‘Jan Aushadhi Shapath’ digitally on the MyGov platform to promote the use of generic medicines.
Pan India seminars and workshops were conducted on a national level by inviting students at Pharma college and universities. A seminar was organised at Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research by the PMBI  at New Delhi in the presence of Vice Chancellor and Director of DIPSAR. Over 6000 students/medical students/para-medical students were directly benefitted by the seminars as they were shared with valuable information about generic medicines with focus on PMBJP. The students were encouraged to take up entrepreneurial endeavours by actively participating in opening Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
Department of Pharmaceuticals has planned various events in different cities starting from 1st of March 2023 to 7th March 2023 which will focus on awareness about the Jan Aushadhi Scheme.
Various other weeklong celebrations are scheduled by conducting various awareness programme for women, senior citizens, children and for engagement of more than 9000 Kendras, Stakeholders, Jan Aushadhi Mitras, doctors, and general public.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana , Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India , the implementing agency of PMBJP is celebrating the 6th Jan Aushadhi Diwas 2023.